Pattern selection system for sewing machines

ABSTRACT

An operator influenced switching arrangement is provided by which any selected one of a plurality of stitch patterns may be rendered effective in a sewing machine in which the stitch pattern information is stored in a static read-only-memory. An arrangement is disclosed in which the number of different operator influenced controls is but a small fraction of the total number of possible pattern selections and a construction is provided for displaying a representation of the appearance of any selected stitch pattern.

[ Oct. 21, 1975 United States Patent 1191 Adams et a1.

3,005,136 10/1961 Fluckiger..................,..... 112/158 E 3,706,066 1/1963 112/158 E PATTERN SELECTION SYSTEM FOR SEWING MACHINES [75] Inventors: Kenneth D. Adams, Madison;

R b t C H f, Upper Montclair; Primary ExaminerH. Hampton Hunter Ed d W, t Union, a f Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert E. Smith; Julian NJ, Falk; Edward L. Bell Assignee: The Singer Company, New York,

Filed; N 26, 1974 An operator influenced switching arrangement is pro- [21] AppL NOJ 527,314 vided by which any selected one of a plurality of stitch patterns may be rendered effective in a sewing machine in which the stitch pattern information is stored [1.8. CI- in a Static read-only-mem0fy An arrangement is dis- Int. losed in the number of different perator influenced controls is but a small fraction of the total num- 221, 158 E [58] Field of Search.....

ber of possible pattern selections and a construction is provided for displaying a representation of the appearance of any selected stitch pattern.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,517,079 8/1950 Birdsall 112/158 E 6 Claims 5 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,913,506

US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet30f3 3,913,506

Fig.5

PATTERN SELECTION SYSTEM FOR SEWING MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Sewing machines which are conventional in the prior art utilize carriers for the stitch pattern information which are sufficiently bulky and require physical driving means also sufficiently bulky as to provide a practical limit to the number of different stitch patterns obtainable. Pattern selection systems for such conventional sewing machines, since they need accommodate only a limited number of choices, do not present serious problems of space and complexity.

The present invention, however, pertains to a pattern selection system for a sewing machine stitch patterning means in which the pattern information is stored in a static read-only-memory. In the same space occupied by the cam stack of a conventional zigzag sewing machine including only a dozen different cams, a static read-only-memory using the techniques of large scale integration and miniaturization currently in vogue, literally hundreds of different stitch patterns may be accommodated. As a result, the limit of pattern information which can be conveniently accommodated no longer relates to the space required for the pattern information carrier and its drive, but instead depends upon the space which is required for the pattern selection elements which the machine operator needs to manipulate in order to select individual patterns from the total stored pattern information data.

If, for instance, a separate push button were to be provided for the selection of each pattern, and a spacing between buttons were to be observed equivalent to that provided on modern typewriter keyboards, all the available space on the front and top surfaces of a sewing machine frame could not accommodate sufficient buttons for the number of different patterns which it is possible to store within the machine frame using modern memory techniques.

Moreover, such a saturation of available machine surface with selector buttons would present impractical complexity and confusion for the user of the sewing machine.

SUMMARY OF THIS INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a stitch pattern selector system for a sewing machine in which the total number of different stitch patterns which may be selected exceeds by a large multiple the number of operator influenced pattern selector elements. This object is attained by the provision of an arrangement in which, in addition to a limited number of primary pattern selector elements, secondary selector means is provided by which the operator may render any one of a number of different sets or groups of stitch patterns subject to selection by the primary selection elements.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a pattern selection system for a sewing machine of the above character with facility for continuously displaying indicia representative of all of the stitch patterns which are available for selection together with means for indicating that stitch pattern which has been selected.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above and additional objects and advantages in view as will hereinafter appear, a preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa sewing machine having the pattern selection system of this invention applied thereto,

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the pattern selection system of this invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the display panel, operator influenced switch means and associated structure of the pattern selection system of this invention including fragments of certain of the elements which have been reversed to illustrate the opposite side thereof as indicated by the arrows,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the assembled display panel taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the assembled display panel taken substantially along line 55 of FIG. 1. g

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates a sewing machine 11 with a frame including a work supporting bed 12 and a bracket arm 13 overhanging the bed. Stitch forming instrumentalities carried in the frame include a needle 14 capable of being reciprocated and jogged laterally to form zigzag stitches and a work feed dog 15 operating upwardly through slots 16 formed in a throat plate 17 on the bed 12 to transport the work across the bed between stitches.

The pattern of stitches produced by operation of the sewing machine, i.e., the positional coordinates of each stitch, may be influenced, for instance, as disclosed in the copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 376,781, filed July 5, 1973 now US. Pat. No. 3,872,808, dated Mar. 25, 1975 and assigned to a common assignee which is incorporated herein by reference.

Briefly, the subject matter of the above identified application which is incorporated herein by reference includes means for controlling the jogging of the needle 14 and/or the direction and magnitude of feed motion of the work feed dog 15 in response to electronic stitch pattern data extracted from a solid state read-onlymemory carried in the sewingmachine frame. The referenced application discloses an approach for selection of any specific one out of a plurality of different groups of stitch position coordinate pattern data stored in the memory, which approach is compatible with the present invention and which involves choice of any particular pattern by selective identification of the address of the starting word of the pattern in the memory.

Whereas in the referenced patent application four selector buttons are disclosed each capable of selecting only one given pattern, the present invention which may be substituted in place of the four switches of the referenced patent application provides for the selection of 25 different patterns of stitches using seven push buttons.

Referring to FIG. 1 the bracket arm 13 of the sewing machine is provided with an escutcheon member 20 formed with a row of preferably evenly spaced apertures 21 through which project push buttons 22. A slot 23 formed in the escutcheon member alongside the apertures 21 accommodates the periphery of a dial 24 which protrudes therethrough for operator manipula tlon.

Above the push buttons 22 on the escutcheon member, a display panel 25 is provided which not only provides a visual indication of all of the possible stitch patterns which are obtainable, but which provides an indication, in a manner which will be described in detail hereinbelow, of the one particular stitch pattern which has been selected. Also included in the means for indicating the selected pattern is a series of indicating lights 26 located above the display panel each light over a respective one of the push buttons 22.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the escutcheon member 20 is preferably formed as a unitary molded piece which is provided lengthwise in the front face with a recess 30. The bottom wall 31 of the recess is formed with a series of small openings 32 over the apertures 21 and with a large opening 33 over the slot 23. The topwall 34 of the recess is formed with a series of bosses 35 each of which includes a central aperture 36 to accommodate the lights 26 as will be described below.

Slidably constrained in the recess 30 between the bottom wall 31 and the bosses 35 is the display panel 25. A finger 37 projects from the display panel through the large opening 33 in the escutcheon member, and adjacent the finger a toothed rack 38 is formed in the display panel which is arranged in mesh with a pinion 39 formed integrally with the dial 24 which is rotatable on a pin 40 held in the escutcheon member 20.

The display panel 25 is provided on its front face with sets of indicia 41 each set being arranged above a respective one of the push buttons 22 and beneath a respective one of the light bosses 35. Each set of indicia 41 serves to illustrate the appearance of the various stitch patterns which can be selected by depression of that respective push button. In the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings four different patterns may be selected by depression of any one push button depending upon the setting of the dial 24.

The display panel 25 is constrained in the recess 30 by a cover plate 42, preferably formed of synthetic plastic and shaped to fit snugly into the recess 30. The cover plate is formed with tabs 43 which may be snapped into the small openings 32 along the bottom wall 31 of the recess and also into similar small openings (not shown) along the top wall 34 thereof. Preferably, the cover plate formed of clear transparent material which is coated or painted with a layer of light impervious material to define an opague area 44 which masks all of the recess 30 except that area 45 overlying the sets of indicia 41 and small clear areas 46 overlying the light accommodating apertures 36 in the bosses 35.

In the clear area 45 overlying the indicia sets, the cover plate is formed with tinted areas 47 which are translucent and present a unique color to any markings viewed therethrough. The tinted areas 47 are preferably just large enough to cover the representation of one stitch pattern out of each set of indicia 41. It has been found that a yellow tint imparts a particularly noticable appearance to the indicia therebeneath and that in association with a light located nearby, the yellow tint makes the underlying indicia increasingly noticeable. The bosses 35 for this reason are preferably formed as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 so that the apertures 36 open not only outwardly but also downwardly so as to cast rays from any light located therein upon the tinted area 47 therebeneath.

The escutcheon member 20 is formed with a lengthwise extending recess 50 in the back or inside thereof into which recess the apertures 21 for the push buttons 22 open. A switch accommodating base plate 51 is received in the recess 50 and carries opposite each of the push buttons 22 an electrical switch 52. Preferably each switch 52 comprises a pair of contacts 53, 54 extending through the base plate and covered by a dished shaped electrically conductive resilient disc 55 which discs are mounted on a support strip 59 arranged to abut the base plate 51. Each disc 55 at the rim is constantly in engagement with the contact 54 but when uninfluenced by depression of the associated push button, each of the discs remains bowed and out of engagement at the center with the contact 53 as shown in FIG. 4. When depressed, the disc 55 snaps into a position closing an electrically conductive path between the contacts as shown in FIG. 5. Electrically conductive leads 56 are carried on the backside of the base plate 51 connecting the switches 52 to a terminal block 57 on top of the base plate. A strip 58 of flexible insulating material such as plastic or the like, may be interposed between the push buttons 22 and the switches 52. Leads 56 from the terminal block 57 also extend along the base plate 51 beyond the switches 52 to a position rearwardly of the dial 24 where certain of these leads connect to contact strips 60, 61 and 62 located in three relatively spaced positions. The contact strips form one part of a slide switch indicated generally at 63. A cage 64, secured to the base plate 51 by tangs 65, constrains a slide block 66 to move in a direction lengthwise along the base plate 51 in a direction parallel to the contact strips 60, 61 and 62. A clevis 67 on the slide block extends through an aperture 68 in the base plate and embraces the finger 37 on the display panel 25. An electrically conductive brush member 69 is secured on the slide block 66 and is formed with three spring fingers 70, 71 and 72 electrically inter-connected and arranged each in a position for movement into engagement with a respective one of the contact strips 60, 61 and 62 as the slide block is moved by turning of the dial 24. A bowed spring 73 secured to the slide block is interposed between the slide block and the cage and serves not only to augment the pressure between the spring fingers and the contact strips but also includes a projection 74 cooperating with four detents 75 formed in the cage to define four discrete positions for the slide switch as indicated in FIG. 2.

The base plate 51 for the switches 52 and 63 is maintained in place in the recess 50 back of the escutcheon member 20 by a closure member 76 secured to theescutcheon member as by fastening screws 77 and by interlocking hooked elements 78 and 79 formed on each of the members 20 and 76. The closure member 76 may also be formed with fastener seats 80 to aid in securing the completely assembled escutcheon member in place on the sewing machine.

A light supporting plate 81, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is provided for sustaining a plurality of the light sources 26 one in each aperture 36 of the escutcheon member. Preferably, each of the light sources comprises a light emitting diode connected by electrical leads 82 on the back of the plate 81 to a tenninal block 83. Fastening screws 84 serve to secure the plate 81 to the back of the .escutcheon member with the light emitting diodes in place each in one of the apertures 36.

, Referring now to the circuit diagram of FIG. 2, the manner in which the switches 52 and 63 cooperate to select patterns in accordance with this invention will now be described. In FIG. 2 the seven switches 52 are identified as 52A through 52G and each switch is connected to a ground reference terminal 86. Each of the switches 52A through 526 are connected to a'NAND switch 523 is connected to an input to NAND gate 102;

switch 52C is connected to an input to NAND gate switch 52D is connected to an input to NAND gates 102 and 103;

switch 52B is connected to an input to NAND gate 104;

switch 52F is connected to an input to NAND gates 102 and 104;

'switch 52G is connected to an input to NAND gates i It is to be noted that an operational B+ voltage has not been indicated on the block diagram of FIG. 2 for convenience. It is to be understood that the required B+ voltage may be provided in a conventional manner by those familiar with the state of the art and that NAND gates 77, 102, 103 and 104 are biased to a high or 1 state in a conventional manner by a resistance, not shown for clarity, coupled to the B+ voltage.

It will be noted that with all of the switches 52A through 526 open, all inputs to each of the NAND gates 87, 102, 103 and 104 are high (binary 1) thus yielding a low (binary 0) on output lines 88, 97, 98 and 99..

When switch 52A is closed, only the output of NAND gate 87 goes to binary 1 providing a pulse to one shot multivibrator 89 and locking the latch with output lines 92, 93 and 94 in the binary 0 condition matching that of input lines 97, 98 and 99.

When any one of the switches 52B through 520 is closed, the output of one or more of the NAND gates 102, 103 or 104 will be influenced to go to binary 1 along with that of NAND gate 87 in accordance with the preceding table of connections to the NAND gates 102, 103 and 104 and consequently, the switches 52A through 52G can influence seven different numbers in binary code to appear on output lines 92, 93 and 94 from the latch 91.

The input lines 100 and 101 to the latch are influenced by the position of the switch 63; in position 1 of this switch as illustrated in FIG. 2

position 3, line 101 being at binary 1 line 100 being at binary 0,

position 44 both lines 100 and 101 being at binary l.

With input lines and 101 contributing to the condition of the output lines 95 and 96 of the latch, a total of 32 different numbers in binary code can appear on the lines 92 to 96 leading to the address memory. It may be advantageous not to utilize all of the available addresses for codes related to different stitch patterns; for instance, the four different addresses in the memory available by depression of switch 52A may be preset all to yield the identical pattern such as a much utilized straight stitch or the like.

The address memory may be purchased commercially from the Signetics Corporation as Model No. 8223 and is capable of being programmed to respond to each different binary input on lines 92 to 96 with any selected response on output lines 120. The address memory 110 described herein, corresponds to that bearing the reference character 91 in the US. application Ser. No. 376,781 incorporated herein by reference.

Lines 130, 131 and 132 leading from the address memory reflect the condition of input lines 92, 93 and 94 and are directed to a binary to octal decoder for influencing a continuous signal in a selected one of the lines 82A to 826 leading to light emitting diodes 26A to 266 respectively.

The position of the dial 24 therefore effects the setting of the slide switch 63 and therefore the binary condition l or 0 of lines 100 and 101 to thelatch 91, and lines 95 and 96 to the addressmemory. The position of the dial 24 also influences the position of the display panel determining the stitch pattern indicia which is displayed behind the tinted areas 47 of the cover plate.

The particular push button 22 which is depressed will influence the binary condition 0 or 1 of the lines 97, 98 and 99 to the latch 91 and lines 102, 103 and 104 to the address memory. Depression of any one of the push buttons 22 will also influence operation of that particular light emitting diode 26A to 266 which is arranged vertically above the push button to identify which push button is effective at any time and to make particularly noticeable the indicia therebeneath depicting the stitch pattern which will result from that particular selection.

Having set forth the nature of this invention, what is claimed herein is:

1. Stitch pattern selection means for a sewing machine having a stitch pattern controlling arrangement in which each specific one of a plurality of stitch patterns may be initiated as a result of a unique composite condition of an electrical control circuit system, said stitch pattern selection means comprising a plurality of first electrical switch means arranged on said sewing machine, first operator influenced means for selectively closing any one of said first electrical switch means for establishing a separate and distinct condition of a portion of said electrical control circuit system upon closure of each of said plurality of first electrical switch means, second electrical switch means arranged on said sewing machine and positionable selectively into a number of different discrete positions, second operator influenced means for positioning said second electrical switch means in any selected discrete position, each said different discrete position establishing a separate and distinct condition of another portion of said electrical control circuit system, and means rendered effective by each utilization of said operator influenced means for activating the electrical control circuit system to reflect the composite condition of the combination of both of said portions of said electrical control circuit system.

2. Stitch pattern selection means for a sewing machine having a stitch pattern controlling arrangement responsive to a static read-only-memory from which each specific one of a plurality of predetermined stitch patterns may be extracted as the result of impression on said memory of a unique binary coded signal involving a plurality of lines, said stitch pattern selection means comprising a plurality of first electrical switch means arranged on said sewing machine, operator influenced means for selectively closing any one of said first electrical switch means, means influenced by closure of each one of said first electrical switches for influencing the binary coded signal defined by one portion of said lines, second electrical switch means arranged on said sewing machine, operator influenced means for positioning said second electrical switch means selectively into different discrete positions, means influenced by each different discrete position of said second electrical switch means for influencing the binary coded signal defined by another portion of said lines, and means for rendering effective the binary coded signal defined by a combination of both portions of said lines .in re,- sponse to each utilization of at least one of said operator influenced means.

3. Asewing machine stitch pattern selection means as set forth in claim 1 in which said individual first electrical switch means are sustained in aligned spaced relationship in a bracket member carried on said sewing machine, and in which said second electrical switch means is shiftably supported on said bracket member for movement relatively to said first electrical switch means, a display panel shiftably supported on said bracket member for movement relatively to' said aligned first electrical switch means, meansoperatively interconnecting said display panel with said second electrical switch means for movement of said display panel relatively to said first electrical switch means, groups of representations carried on said display panel one group adjacent each of said first electrical switch means, each of said groups denoting the appearance of each stitch pattern for which a stitch pattern identifying circuit may be correlated with 'said first electrical switch means by said second electrical switch means, and indicating means carried on said bracket member specifically to denote that one representation of each group which comprises the set'of stitch patterns rendered effective by said second electrical switch means. 4. A sewing machine stitch pattern means as set forth in claim 3 in which a transparent cover is provided over said display panel such that all of said representations on said display panel remain continuously visible.

5. A sewing machine stitch pattern means as set forth in claim 3 in which all of the representations on said display panel have the same color, in which said transparent cover is fixed on said bracket member, and in which said indicating means comprises selected tinted areas of said transparent covering which impart a unique color to the representations of that set of stitch patterns which are rendered effective by said second ary pattern selection means.

6. A sewing machine stitch pattern selection means as set forth in claim 3 in which an indicating light is provided on said bracket member in association with each of said groups of representations, and means for illuminating that one of said indicating lights which is associated with that group of representation corresponding to any first electrical switch means which is effective. 

1. Stitch pattern selection means for a sewing machine having a stitch pattern controlling arraNgement in which each specific one of a plurality of stitch patterns may be initiated as a result of a unique composite condition of an electrical control circuit system, said stitch pattern selection means comprising a plurality of first electrical switch means arranged on said sewing machine, first operator influenced means for selectively closing any one of said first electrical switch means for establishing a separate and distinct condition of a portion of said electrical control circuit system upon closure of each of said plurality of first electrical switch means, second electrical switch means arranged on said sewing machine and positionable selectively into a number of different discrete positions, second operator influenced means for positioning said second electrical switch means in any selected discrete position, each said different discrete position establishing a separate and distinct condition of another portion of said electrical control circuit system, and means rendered effective by each utilization of said operator influenced means for activating the electrical control circuit system to reflect the composite condition of the combination of both of said portions of said electrical control circuit system.
 2. Stitch pattern selection means for a sewing machine having a stitch pattern controlling arrangement responsive to a static read-only-memory from which each specific one of a plurality of predetermined stitch patterns may be extracted as the result of impression on said memory of a unique binary coded signal involving a plurality of lines, said stitch pattern selection means comprising a plurality of first electrical switch means arranged on said sewing machine, operator influenced means for selectively closing any one of said first electrical switch means, means influenced by closure of each one of said first electrical switches for influencing the binary coded signal defined by one portion of said lines, second electrical switch means arranged on said sewing machine, operator influenced means for positioning said second electrical switch means selectively into different discrete positions, means influenced by each different discrete position of said second electrical switch means for influencing the binary coded signal defined by another portion of said lines, and means for rendering effective the binary coded signal defined by a combination of both portions of said lines in response to each utilization of at least one of said operator influenced means.
 3. A sewing machine stitch pattern selection means as set forth in claim 1 in which said individual first electrical switch means are sustained in aligned spaced relationship in a bracket member carried on said sewing machine, and in which said second electrical switch means is shiftably supported on said bracket member for movement relatively to said first electrical switch means, a display panel shiftably supported on said bracket member for movement relatively to said aligned first electrical switch means, means operatively interconnecting said display panel with said second electrical switch means for movement of said display panel relatively to said first electrical switch means, groups of representations carried on said display panel one group adjacent each of said first electrical switch means, each of said groups denoting the appearance of each stitch pattern for which a stitch pattern identifying circuit may be correlated with said first electrical switch means by said second electrical switch means, and indicating means carried on said bracket member specifically to denote that one representation of each group which comprises the set of stitch patterns rendered effective by said second electrical switch means.
 4. A sewing machine stitch pattern means as set forth in claim 3 in which a transparent cover is provided over said display panel such that all of said representations on said display panel remain continuously visible.
 5. A sewing machine stitch pattern means as set forth in claim 3 iN which all of the representations on said display panel have the same color, in which said transparent cover is fixed on said bracket member, and in which said indicating means comprises selected tinted areas of said transparent covering which impart a unique color to the representations of that set of stitch patterns which are rendered effective by said secondary pattern selection means.
 6. A sewing machine stitch pattern selection means as set forth in claim 3 in which an indicating light is provided on said bracket member in association with each of said groups of representations, and means for illuminating that one of said indicating lights which is associated with that group of representation corresponding to any first electrical switch means which is effective. 